Dispensing container



May 7, 1929. H. D. LAVAN I DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed May 25, 1928 v INVENTOR BY I ATTORNEY,

WITNESS:

Patented May 7, 1929.

, 1,712,442 PATENT OFFICE.

HERCULES D. LAVAN, OF ROS LYN, NEW YORK.

DISPENSING Application filed May 23,

This invention relates to dispensing containers and more particularly to sanitary sugar dispensers for table and kitchen use.

The primary object of the inventionresidcs in a sugar or condiment container from which a predetermined quantity of its contents may be dispensed upon the tilting of the container and the manual actuation of a manipulating rod.

Another important object is to provide a sanitary dispensing container in which the contents are sealed against germs and contamination by insects.

A-. further object is the provision of a sanitary dispensingcontainer for granular or powdered substances which includes a pouringspout which also acts asa measuring chamber and which is normally in communication with the interior of the container to freely receive a quantity of the contents upon the tilting of the container, there being a spring actuated doornormally closing the spout, while suitable actuating means is provided whereby the communication between the spout and interior of the container may be shutoff and the door successively opened 1 1 by a single manipulation to allow the predetermined amount of the contents in the measuring chamber to be dispensed.

A furtherobjectis to provide a dispensing container which is simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, and which may be held and actuated by the use of a single hand of an operator.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel construction and combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which H Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved dispensing container.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sec tional view therethrough.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a separable perspective view of the valve assembly.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the numeral 10 designates a container of any design which is open at one end to facilitate the filling of the same with sugar, salt or the like. The open end of the container is exteriorly screwthreaded as at 11 CONTAINER.

1928. Serial No. 279,955.

to threadedly receive a closure cap 12. Ex-

tending t'ron'i the side wall. of the container at right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof, is a spout 13, normally closed by a door 14; which-is swinging-1y mounted on the spout by a spring hinge 15. Fixedly mounted in the inner end of the spout is a disk 16 which may be sweatedor otherwise secured and which has a cross shape opening 17 therein. Diametrically opposed guide openings 18 are also provided in the disk for a purpose to be presently explained.

Fixedly supported on the inner wall of the container in axial alignment with the spout 13 is a cylinder 19, while, slidably mounted in the inner closed end wall thereof is a rod 20 which also extends through and beyond the side wall of the container and threadedly receives a manipulating knob or button 21. Fixed to the rod is a collar 22 disposed within the cylinder, while an expansion spring 23 is interposed between said collar and the inner end wall of the cylinder for normally holding the rod in a retracted position.

Threadedly connected to the inner end of the rod is a cross shaped head 24 provided with a disk 25 at the back end thereof, while guide rods 26 carried bythe disk 25 enter the guide openings 18 for maintaining the cross shaped head in alignment with the cross shaped opening 17. WVhen the head is moved into the opening, the disk 25 abuts the disk 16 and limits inward sliding movement of the head and its actuating means.

Threaded to the head 24 and extending axially therefrom is a push rod 27 having a rounded head 28 on its outer free end for striking engagement with the door, and which is normally in spaced relation thereto to allow the head 24 to seal the opening 17 before the door is opened.

In operation, the container is picked up by the hand of an operator with the parts in position as shown in full lines in Figure 2 of the drawings and is tilted forward to an angle of approximately 45 depending upon the amount of contents in the container, whereupon aquantity of the contents passes through the crossshaped opening 17 for filling the measuring chamber 29 within the spout 13. With the container held in the same position, the operator pushes upon the manipulating knob 21 with the thumb or one of the fingers of his hand in which the container is held. The rod 20 moves inward against the action of the spring 23, moving the crossshaped head 24 into the cross shaped opening 17 thus sealing the passage between the measuring chamber and the interior of the container, which traps a predetermined quantity of the contents in said measuring chamber. Further movement of the'rod 20 after the passage has been sealed, causes the head 28 on theend of the rod 27 to strike the door 14 which forces it to an open position against the action of the spring hinge 15,.

which allows the contents of the measuring chamber to freely pour therefrom. Upon release of the manipulating knob 21, the spring 23 will automatically return the actuating means to original position, while the spring hinge 15 closes the door, at which time the device is ready for another dispensing operation.

If desired, the measuring chamber 29 may be of a size to contain a teaspoon. or tabletion, it is obvious that many of the details may be varied without in any way departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not limit myself to the exact details of construction herein set forth nor to anything less than the whole of my invention limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is 1. A dispensing device'comprising a container having. a measuring spout communicating with the interior of the container through a restricted passage, a pivoted door mounted at the discharge end of said measuringspout, spring means acting to hold said door in a closed position, a rod slidably mounted in said container and having one end extending exteriorly thereof, a manipulating knob on the outer end of said rod, 0. head on the inner end of said rod for sealin engagement with the walls of said restricte passage, spring means acting upon said rod to hold said head away from said restricted passage, and a push rod carried by said hea for striking engagement with said door for opening the same against the action of thefirst spring means when said first rod is pushed inward to cause said head to move into sealin engagement with the walls of said restricted passage.

2. A dispensing device comprising a container having a measuring spout communicating with the interior of the container through a restricted cross shape pa ,1! pivoted door mounted at the discharge end of said measuring spout, spring means acting to hold said door in a closed position, a slidably mounted in said container and having one end extending exteriorly thereof, a manipulating knob on the outer end of said rod, a cross shape head on the inner end of said rod for sealing engagement with the walls of said restricted passage, guide rods carried by said head for guiding the same in its sliding movements, spring means acting upon said rod to hold said head away from said restricted passage, and a push rod carried by said head for striking engagement with said door for opening the same against the action of the first spring means when said first rod is pushed inward to cause said head to move into sealing engagementwith the walls of said restricted passage.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

HERCULES 'D. LAVAN. 

